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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 18, 1998)
Scott McClurg/DN FORMER PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE Bob Dole signs an autograph for Kathleen McCallister of Omaha before speaking at the Nebraska Republican Party’s St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast on Tuesday morning at Embassy Suites in Omaha. Bob Dole stops for St. Patrick’s Day breakfast DOLE from page 1 resent the Republican party and the principles it has. It is especially important, Dole said, for the Republican Party to reach out to young party members. “All of these young people are looking to us for leadership,” he said. University of Nebraska-Lincoln students Ryan Shuck and Peter McClellan traveled from Lincoln to the breakfast because of Dole’s national prominence but said the small-scale breakfast made Dole more approachable. “I really appreciated his humor,” said McClellan, a junior mechanical engineering major. Dole said a Republican would be in the White House and the GOP would be the majority in Congress by 2000. And when Republicans choose their next candidate for president, the nomination process will be a “red hot contest,” Dole said. “We want to be the majority across America.” . „ wSTl | --■■■ ■'"■■■■ --------- Officials: Scams usually sound too good to be true SCAMS from page 7 national foundation to receive a scholar ship,” or “You’re a finalist” in a contest you never entered. In fact, hotline operators for the National Fraud Information Center at (800) 876-7060 said all scholarship companies are frauds, no matter what guarantees they offer or how good they sound. “All the scholarship information you need can be found in the ‘College Blue Book' in your library,” one opera tor said. Love Library has the book in its ref erence department. Daniel Helfrnan, a consultant to the National Consumers League, said in 1997 scholarship scams ranked No. 17 out of the top 50 national scams based on the number of people affected and money lost. “These scams just prey on vulnera ble people, and students are quite vul nerable,” he said. “The primary (schol arship) resource for students should be their school’s financial aid office.” In 1997, Meacham said, the Lincoln Better Business Bureau had 54 callers ask about scholarship offers. “We’ve had very few complaints,” Meacham said. “We can usually talk (the caller) out of responding to (the offer).” According to the Better Business Bureau, new and increasingly popular scams are the work-at-home scams, which offer to pay victims top dollar for simple tasks such as stuffing envelopes or assembling jewelry at home. After roofing and siding contrac tors, work-at-home scams received the third-highest number of inquiry calls at Better Business Bureaus nationwide. in lyy/, the Lincoln Better Business Bureau reported 954 inquiries into work-at-home business opportuni ties. Meacham said most people rely on common sense and question such get rich-quick schemes. “Why would a company want to pay you 50 cents per stuffed envelope when they have machines to do it for free, and 50 times faster?” he said. Scams can come in many other shapes and forms. The Better Business Bureau and other consumer watchdog organizations warn people to stay away from several scam-indicating scenarios, including: ■ a “cop” asking your help in a police investigation. ■ someone offering to sell you a winning lottery ticket. ■ someone asking you to share in found money. The following phrases also accom pany many scams: ■ “Cash.” If you are asked for a large sum of money, ask yourself why cash would be necessary. ■ “Don’t talk to anyone.” A good businessman will advise you to consult friends or family before getting in on a deal. ■ “Get rich quick” or “something for nothing.” No matter how tempting it sounds, making money is never this easy. Above all, trust your instincts, Meacham and other consumer watch dogs said. If it sounds too good to be true, then it more than likely is. ToM-e our Qui& c\a<1 you coui<i +0k\^^ Woi^ve Ok pf\Ze\ You could win a FREE T-shirt or sweatshirt, a 60-minute prepaid long \ distance card, or one of the other great prizes to be given away each J week when you take the NewsQuiz. the fun online current events > game from the Daily Nebraskan and Ravi Xs* Internet Access Service from Aliant Communications ^ ^ f Jus! log on to the Net, cal! up the Daily Nebraskan home page at www.unLedtt/OailyMeb, and look for the t 9 NewsQuiz icon at the bottom of the front page. K] W ^ G)\) \ Ts The sooner you play the sooner you could win.